Notice: This “Rule 420” rate filing checklist applies to all rate revision filings for LTC policies issued prior to October 1, 2004. For policies issued on or after October 1, 2004, separate rate filing(s) must be submitted using the Rule 425 rate filing checklist.

A Nursing Home and Long Term Care insurance policy rate filing must be submitted whenever an existing policy, rider, or endorsement form that affects benefits is submitted for approval and whenever there is a change in the rates applicable to a previously approved form. Rates must be filed with the form rather than separately. If the form does not require a change in the premium, the submission must include a complete explanation of the effect on the policy’s loss ratio. The rate filing must include all rates, rating formulas, and revisions.

The filing must be clearly identified as either a group or an individual rate filing.

The name and address of the carrier, and the name, title, email address, and direct phone number of the person responsible for the filing, must be provided in the SERFF “Filing Contact Information” section.

Past experience must be presented based on (1) the initial premiums, (2) the actual premiums (if rates have been previously increased), and (3) the proposed premiums. Show experience separately for Maine and for all states in which the form is or was sold. State whether the proposed rates are based on Maine experience, national experience, or a combination and explain the reasons this basis was used. If nationwide experience is used, premiums must be adjusted to the Maine rate level.

Specify whether waived premiums are included in earned premiums and incurred claims.

1. If waived premiums are included, include the following:
(a) Specify the amount of waived premiums over the last 12 months.
(b) Specify the amount of reserves held for future waived premiums.
(c) Indicate the effect of the proposed rate increase on future waived premiums and reserves.
2. If waived premiums are not included, specify the amount of waived premiums in each year.

The filing must include sufficient supporting information to demonstrate that the rates are not excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory. At a minimum, the filing must include an analysis of actual and projected experience with respect to morbidity, mortality, lapsation, and all other relevant factors. Include a comparison to the original pricing assumptions and to the assumptions at the time of any previous rate adjustment.

The carrier must provide the present value of paid premiums and paid claims for both the historic and projected displays that are described herein. These components must be calculated separately and then combined.

Provide a demonstration that the actual and projected experience meets the standards of sub-§ C. 20, below. The projected experience must include the definitions of each item and the methodology and assumptions employed in rating this block of business. A description of how the paid items are adjusted for interest must be included. The assumptions should include the claim rate at least at each 10th duration.

The filing must also include a comparison of the proposed rates with those of a similar plan currently sold by the company if such is available.

Separately for the future period and for the lifetime of the form, show the following items as a percentage of earned premium. Past experience must be accumulated with interest. Future experience must be on a present value basis.

1. If the form is no longer actively marketed, a statement must be included as to whether a similar form is actively marketed and, if so, a discussion of equity between the two forms, including a comparison of the benefits and premium rates, must also be included.

“Similar forms” means all of the long-term care or nursing home care policies and certificates issued by a carrier in the same benefit classification as the policy form being considered. Certificates of employee groups as defined in 24-A M.R.S.A. §2804, labor union groups as defined in 24-A M.R.S.A. §2805, or trustee groups as defined in 24-A M.R.S.A. §2806 are not considered similar to certificates or policies otherwise issued as long-term care or nursing home care insurance but are similar to other comparable certificates with the same benefit classifications.

2. Rates for individual policy forms for closed blocks must not exceed rates for an open block, unless the difference is justified by differences in benefits or other conditions, or unless the fact that renewal rates would exceed new business rates was disclosed at issue. The Superintendent may approve exceptions to this requirement, if the enrollees are permitted to change to the new form based on original issue age and the Superintendent determines that the change would be in the best interest of the enrollees.

There must be certification by a qualified actuary that, to the best of the actuary’s knowledge and judgment, the entire rate filing is in compliance with the applicable laws of the State of Maine and with the rules of the Bureau of Insurance. “Qualified actuary,” as used herein, means a member in good standing of the American Academy of Actuaries.

The carrier shall provide written notice by first class mail of a rate increase to all affected policyholders and to group certificate holders who are directly billed for coverage at least 90 days before the effective date of any increase in premium rates. An increase in premium rates may not be implemented until 90 days after the notice is provided. A generic version of the notice to the policyholder must be included with the rate filing.

C ≥ 0.6 * I + (0.60+0.25) * Δ I, where C is the present value of the claim cost each year over the life of the business, I is the present value of past and future premium income each year based on the rates initially charged an insured for each policy, and Δ I is the present value of the increased portion of the premium over the life of the business.

Provide your demonstration of compliance with this requirement with the rate filing.

*Note 1: Past premiums are adjusted to the proposed rate level in order to ensure that the proposed increase does not recoup past losses.

**Note 2: The addition of 25% of the increased portion of the premiums reflects the lack of first-year expenses associated with this portion of the premium. This assumes that 15% of premium will cover renewal expenses. If this is not the case, the carrier may request an exception under sub-§ C. 21, below.

Note 3: see sub-§ C. 22, below, for specification of the interest rate to be used in determining rate increases.

An carrier will be granted an exception to the requirements of sub-§ C. 20 if it demonstrates that its reasonable renewal expenses exceed 15% of the increased premium. In that case, the 25% in sub-§ C. 20, 2.b. will be replaced by 40% minus the demonstrated reasonable renewal expenses as a percentage of the increased premium.

All present and accumulated values used to determine rate increases must use the maximum valuation interest rate for contract reserves as specified in Bureau of Insurance Rule Chapter 130. The filing must disclose the use of any appropriate averages.

If the policy form affects policies issued both before and after October 1, 2004, separate filings must be submitted. The filing for policies issued prior to October 1, 2004 must meet the standards of Rule 420. The filing for policies issued on or after October 1, 2004 must meet the standards of Rule 425.

The filer must review Rule 420, §6. carefully and ensure that each rate revision filing subject to Rule 420 provides policyholder notification and a contingent nonforfeiture benefit upon lapse as described in the Rule.